The Knightsbridge Estate has unveiled a large-scale photographic installation, The Knights of Knightsbridge, as a new public artwork for London. It was created by internationally-renowned fashion photographer and image-maker Nick Knight to surround a new landmark development project at the northern aspect of The Knightsbridge Estate, located at the intersection of Sloane Street and Brompton Road.
Uniting the worlds of fashion, luxury and art, the billboard-sized panoramic installation has been commissioned for The Knightsbridge Estate by asset manager and property developer Chelsfield on behalf of The Olayan Group, which owns the property. The bold exhibit curtains work on exciting enhancements that will reinvigorate The Knightsbridge Estate as a world-class destination in the heart of West London. The emerging development, currently underway behind the installation and retained historic building façade, will deliver seven flagship retail stores, 67,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art commercial office space, 35 luxury rental apartments and a rooftop restaurant.
The Knights of Knightsbridge is made up of an amalgamation of 18 striking fashion images by Nick Knight, renowned fashion photographer and Founder of SHOWstudio, featuring highly-structured ‘armour-like’ creations from luxury fashion designers including Gareth Pugh, Rick Owens, Iris Van Herpen, Yohji Yamamoto, Moncler and Maison Margiela. The visual artwork also captures highly embellished pieces from the archive of couture house Dior, by John Galliano.
Under Nick’s artistic direction the SHOWstudio team worked to produce what became their biggest fashion shoot in the history of the studio. The making of this unprecedented panorama has been captured by SHOWstudio on film here.
At 11 metres high and stretching 120 metres around the northern end of The Knightsbridge Estate, which fronts Brompton Road and Sloane Street, it is estimated that over 30,000 visitors will pass by the installation on a daily basis.
Elliott Bernerd, Chairman of Chelsfield, said: “We set out to commission an artwork that would reflect our vision for the redevelopment of The Knightsbridge Estate as a luxury destination to shop, work, live and eat but also to enhance the area during the period of the build. Nick Knight’s interpretation of this vision is a truly powerful celebration of art and fashion, which we hope visitors to The Knightsbridge Estate will love.”
Nick Knight said: “I was thrilled when Chelsfield offered me the opportunity to make an installation on such a huge scale and time frame. I decide to work with the most spectacular and otherworldly fashion, both old and new – from established fashion houses to young students. I took inspiration from historic references as well as the area’s name and decided to create a ‘frieze’ based on a multi-cultural, global interpretation of classical knights. I also looked to the historic architectural tradition of heroic characters high up on buildings that watch over cities and communities.”
The Knights of Knightsbridge will be in place until Summer 2019.
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